In this review, we will be comparing A190 and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both A190 and R-820F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A190 |
Klipsch R-820F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F can go slightly deeper then the A190's min frequency of 36Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
A190 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-820F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A190 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R-820F's is rated at 97 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A190, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
A190 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the A190.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
A190 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-820F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL Stage A190's and Klipsch R-820F's external dimensions. JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm ( 43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch) .
JBL Stage A190 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 21mm taller and 19mm deeper than Klipsch R-820F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL Stage A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The A190 requires 27% more surface area than the R-820F which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL Stage A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs and the Klipsch R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R-820F 9% heavier than the A190.
Here is a comparison of how A190 and R-820F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A190?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A190:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-820F?
Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1096mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2 (277x426mm)
vs
1499cm2 (337x445mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A190 |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
35-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
337.0mm (13.3") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
22.61kg (49.7lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |